“Meredith is one of the best students I have known in our Informatics undergraduate program. Since joining my research group, she has worked on par with my graduate students, helping plan, conduct, and present our research.” – Juan Pablo Hourcade

Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa

Faculty mentor/advisor: Juan Pablo Hourcade, PhD, professor of computer science and director of graduate studies for the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Informatics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Degree program and anticipated graduation date: BS in informatics, Spring 2026

Meredith Onions studies how researchers can ethically investigate emerging technologies like virtual and augmented reality with child populations. Her work addresses critical questions about safety, privacy, and well-being as extended reality becomes more common in homes and classrooms.

Her contributions include co-authoring papers presented at leading conferences and organizing a special interest group on research ethics for children and technology. She has also helped analyze data from studies on preschoolers’ preferences for augmented reality and conducted focus groups with parents and professionals to understand their perspectives on research ethics.

“Being involved in research has made me feel more connected to my department and to my field of study,” says Onions. “The analytical skills I’ve gained have made me a better student as a whole.”

After graduation, Onions plans to pursue a career in user-centered design and research, applying her expertise to create technologies that prioritize both innovation and responsibility.